House Of Fun

“Look what the cat finally dragged in! Literally!”

Zander flinched slightly at the voice, knuckles turning white as his hands tightened around his cane — but as he turned to the origin of the voice, none of it showed on his face. Instead, he smiled a wide, toothy grin.

“Ah, I see you three are not late this time!” Zander leaned forwards slightly, supporting his weight on his cane, “It’s not a circus without the clowns, no? Although you did make quite the embarrassment of yourself last time, are you sure it was not on purpose?”

“Now you listen here, Zagan!” One of the clowns, Dimdim, lunged forwards for Zander, only to be held back by another, Knickknack.

“He’s not worth it!” Knickknack hissed to his friend, which caused Zander to smile wider.

“I am most certainly not! Especially not on show night. We wouldn’t want the boss to be even more mad at you, would we?” Zander tilted his head, as if he had asked an actual question, and not just spat sarcasm at the three clowns.

“What about after the show?” Choochoo, the largest of the clowns, spoke slowly.

“Yeah, you never specified we couldn’t beat you down after the show!” Dimdim yelled, ever so loud and ever so annoying.

“A three-on-one?” Zander finally stood up straight, “Now, that’s not very fair, no?”

Dimdim took a step forward, a clear threat, “Since when were we fair?”

Zander’s smile faded for a second, as he stepped back, “Now, what did Knickknack say?”

“For once, listen to him, Dimwit!” Knickknack, however, didn’t move to stop his friend from threatening Zander.

For a moment there was an uncomfortable silence, which dragged on with the uncomfortable threat clearly played by Dimdim.

“Doors!” The overpowering voice of the boss grabbed everyone’s attention, “I want the clowns at the back door now! Beast keeper, you’re the main attraction! The aerialists should be on any minute now, so no more lazing about!”

Choochoo and Knickkanck walked past Zander and to the back door with no more jabs, but as Dimdim walked past, he grabbed onto Zander’s arm roughly, and Zander could’ve sworn his heart skipped a beat.

“You may think you’re lucky that the boss picked you up,” Dimdim’s eyes were like daggers, “But you’re no more than a forty miler. Remember that, before you get in a clem your monsters can’t get you out of.”

When Zander’s arm was released, and he heard Dimdim get a far enough distance, he let out the breath he didn’t know he was holding.

He slung his cane over his shoulder with a huff, resigned to his fate as he walked over to a smaller side tent, pushing his way through the curtain and reveling in the privacy it gave him.

“Morfran! Aegir!” He yelled into the tent, quickly gaining the attention of the four beasts around him, “Typhon! Keres! Your faces are a sight for the sorest eyes!”

The four stalked up to the man, and he would’ve been more scared if he didn’t trust them with his life, which might or might not be his downfall, who can say.

Morfran squinted his eyes, grumbling something that was incomprehensible to Zander.

“Oh no, I’m fine!” Zander stood tall, “See, I am better as ever! I am very lucky that I’ve been so accepted, no?”

“Very lucky,” Keres parroted.

“Indeed!” Zander planted his cane on the floor, “We have to give a good show this time! Our best, even! It’s a turnaway crowd, and the zanies cannot outdo us, can they?”

The four in front of him made a cacophony of growls, and the occasional chirp from Keres, to which Zander laughed, “Then, my ‘beasts,’ we must perform like it is our last circus!”

Despite the speech, Zander was not very sure of himself.

He had not been born into the circus, like many of the performers here had been. No, instead he had been found by the boss one night, and it almost felt too good to be true. An orphan, allowed into a “family” of people just like him. Not his words, no, that’s what the boss had told him.

People just like him, now that was a lie. The clowns, the acrobats, the aerialists, even most of the beasts under his care were born into this circus. It felt like there was no one who could truly understand him.

With a huff, he took a seat as he awaited his call, allowing his mind to wander while also keeping an ear out.